Plot thickens over funding of Midlothian school

Labour have hit out after it emerged that Newbattle’s new high school will cost more per square metre than the much-maligned Dalkeith Campus.

A a recent full council meeting, officials presented a financial comparison report of school projects delivered in the past 10 years.

It revealed that the public private partnership (PPP) funded Dalkeith Campus, delivered by a Labour-led council in 2004, costs less per square metre to the council (£105,000) than the Scottish Government funded deal signed by the current SNP-led council for Newbattle Centre, which costs more per square metre than any other local school build (£166,000).

Speaking at the meeting Councillor Jim Muirhead (Lab), said: “The findings are quite striking. We said back in 2002 we were not enamoured with the PPP but it was the only game in town. We can see today that we got a good deal for Midlothian.”